WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, Ambassador Julie Turner, is set to visit South Korea later this week. The State Department announced Monday that her visit is aimed at reinforcing the United States' commitment to supporting North Korean defectors and highlighting human rights violations in North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Turner's visit will span from Wednesday to Saturday, coinciding with North Korean Defectors' Day on Sunday. Her schedule includes participation in a forum and meetings with Seoul officials, civil society organizations, and industry groups focused on supply chain due diligence and forced labor issues. "She will highlight the United States' commitment to support the North Korean defector and escapee community, advance a survivor-centered approach to accountability for North Korea's human rights violations and abuses, and underscore the unique role escapees play in exposing the regime's human rights violations and abuses," stated the release from the department. The visit emphasizes the role of North Korean escapees in providing a firsthand account of the conditions under the regime and their potential to inspire change for those still under its control.
The State Department also reiterated its ongoing strategy to work closely with international allies, including the Republic of Korea, to amplify the voices of North Korean defectors and escapees, thereby promoting a broader awareness and action against the human rights abuses perpetrated by the North Korean regime.